Yesterday, it was announced on the rec.models.rockets newsgroup, as a result of the Homeland Security Act, that UPS has ceased general shipment of hazardous materials. This includes all hobby solid propellant rocket motors, even Estes model rocket motors are now prohibited.

A concerted legislative effort is underway to change the mis-classification of rocket propellant as an explosive. Your help is needed in this letter/phone/telegram campaign. John Wickman, a professional propulsion engineer, is leading this effort in Washington D.C. and is assisting Congressional staffers in their efforts to correct this problem on a daily basis.

Hobby rocketry is one of our best resources for advancing cheap access to space. If we don't act to save it now, we may not ever get off this rock.

I have verified the new items that UPS allows to be shipped, they are listed below:

UN0012 Cartridges for weapons, inert projectile or Cartridges, small arms
UN0014 Cartridges for weapons, blank or Cartridges, small arms, blank
UN0044 Primers, cap type
UN0055 Cases, cartridge, empty with primer
UN0174 Rivets, explosive
UN0376 Cartridges, power device
UN0323 Cartridges, power device
UN0338 Cartridges for weapons, blank or Cartridges, small arms, blank
UN0339 Cartridges for weapons, inert projectile or Cartridges, small arms
UN0379 Cases, cartridges, empty with primer
UN0432 Articles, pyrotechnic
UN0446 Cases, combustible, empty, without primer

LINKS:

Letter writing campaign - http://www.space-rockets.com/arsanews.html
UPS new policies - http://www.ups.com/using/services/accs/hzm-guide.html
Homeland Security Act Changes - http://www.space-rockets.com/18usc840.html
rec.models.newsgroup - http://groups.google.com/groups?th=72db7f80d4d674fb